Frontiers in Virtual Reality (Jan 2022)

The Immersive Mental Rotations Test: Evaluating Spatial Ability in Virtual Reality

  • Ian Lochhead,
  • Nick Hedley,
  • Arzu Çöltekin,
  • Brian Fisher

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2022.820237
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3

Abstract

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Advancements in extended reality (XR) have inspired new uses and users of advanced visualization interfaces, transforming geospatial data visualization and consumption by enabling interactive 3D geospatial data experiences in 3D. Conventional metrics (e.g., mental rotations test (MRT)) are often used to assess and predict the appropriateness of these visualizations without accounting for the effect the interface has on those metrics. We developed the Immersive MRT (IMRT) to evaluate the impact that virtual reality (VR) based visualizations and 3D virtual environments have on mental rotation performance. Consistent with previous work, the results of our pilot study suggest that mental rotation tasks are performed more accurately and rapidly with stereo 3D stimuli than with 2D images of those stimuli.

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